“After I wrote the first chapter I wanted to know what happened so every day I would write a chapter and it became more popular.

“I could see the numbers go up and when I tried to make a Twitter account I couldn’t even use my own name because all these fan accounts already existed – I realised people actually cared and loved it.

“Wattpad contacted me and said publishers and agents had reached out, I was even getting messages from agents and didn’t understand what was happening.

“I went to New York and met with four publishing houses and there was an auction – every publisher wanted me to take down my online chapters and I didn’t want to do it.

“I kept saying no and they gave in.”

Todd wanted to keep her work online so that new people found it and also so she could read comments.

To date, her online version has received over 1.5 billion views, whilst her published book has sold over 11 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 30 languages.

After: The Movie

Todd is three weeks into her role as producer on After: The Movie and speaks to the BBC from the set, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Being here feels amazing and really surreal, my entire life has changed. It’s crazy seeing these characters come to life and I’ve been very involved in the re-writes and casting.”

The lead, Hardin Scott is played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who is best known for playing young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

He is also the nephew of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes.

His co-lead, Josephine Langford, who also has famous connections as the sister of 13 Reasons Why actress Katherine, plays Tessa Young.

Another important factor for Todd was having a strong female team, in light of the lack of female representation in the Hollywood film industry.

“Our team and crew are nearly all women, so we understand the story and know how to portray those women.

“It’s been incredible – we’ve had a lot of crew members say they’ve never worked with this many women on a film before.”

Asked if there might be a cameo from Harry Styles, Todd says it’s unlikely, but his management know about the fan fiction and the film production.

“Sony (who manage One Direction) paid a writer to make the first original fan fiction about the band – I can’t imagine they were upset (to find out about her work).”

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